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Updated: May 14, 2026

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells
Published on: January 17, 2019
Telomerase-null survivor screening identifies novel telomere recombination regulators
Yan Hu1, Hong-Bo Tang, Ning-Ning Liu
1The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Cells lacking telomerase can survive by activating recombination pathways. This study identifies new genes regulating telomere maintenance and survivor cell types (Type I and Type II) in yeast.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Telomeres protect chromosome ends and are maintained by telomerase.
- Critical telomere shortening triggers cellular senescence.
- Yeast lacking telomerase can form 'survivor' cells via recombination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes regulating telomere maintenance and survivor cell fate.
- To understand the genetic control of Type I and Type II survivor generation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic knockout of 280 telomere-length-maintenance (TLM) genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking telomerase RNA (TLC1).
- Analysis of telomere structures in post-senescent survivor cells.
- Genetic screening to determine gene functions in survivor pathway choice.
Main Results:
- Identified 10 genes influencing the ratio of Type I/Type II survivors.
- Discovered 22 genes essential for Type II survivor generation.
- Confirmed Pif1 helicase role in Type I recombination and INO80 complex influence on Type I frequency.
- Found Rad6 ubiquitination and KEOPS complex required for Type II recombination.
Conclusions:
- Uncovered novel genes regulating telomere maintenance and survivor cell type determination.
- Provided insights into the distinct genetic pathways controlling Type I and Type II telomere recombination.
- Highlighted the importance of specific helicases, chromatin remodelers, and protein modification complexes in telomere dynamics.
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